While doing my thesis work in the Vadigepalli lab, I have been involved in two projects centered around the influence of the Vagus nerve on autonomic function and cardiovascular control. One project focuses on intracardiac neurons at the base of the heart and characterizing their phenotypes at the transcriptional level to develop a 3D molecular and anatomical atlas of the heart. The second project investigates the cascade of changes in genes and miRNAs taking place in autonomic centers in the brain and brainstem as autonomic dysfunction progresses. In addition to studying these gene regulatory networks, I have developed an R package for the analysis and visualization of large datasets.

I was responsible for a variety of things in the Ellington Lab in addition to everyday lab duties. I frequently assisted in the purification of proteins, often polymerases. I worked on a project evolving DNA polymerases that involves a complicated process called compartmentalized self replication (CSR). I became proficient in techniques such as polymerase chain reactions, mini-prepping, transformation (both electro-competent and chemically competent cells), gibson reactions, ligations, and restriction digests.

As an academic tutor I was available to students who needed help with classes such as calculus or chemistry.

My main project at the School of Pharmacy was testing the effects that different pressures had on the efficiency of depth filters. The lab I worked with mainly dealt with protein aggregation and these filters worked to separate aggregated proteins from solution. In order to analyze the success of these filters I was trained in using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).